Clapton plans tour retirement at 70

Eric Clapton has said he plans to retire from touring when he hits his 70th birthday.

The Wonderful Tonight star is on a world tour at the moment, but according to the Daily Mirror he isn't planning on another one after he reaches his next age milestone.

The 68-year-old said: "I won't stop playing or doing one-offs, but I'll stop touring, I think. The bit onstage, that's easy. If I could do that around my neighbourhood that would be great.

"You have guys in Texas that play their circuit and it keeps them alive. But for me, the struggle is the travel. The only way you can beat that is by throwing so much money at it that you make a loss."

Eric, who first found fame with The Yardbirds and formed Cream before releasing solo hits in the 80s and 90s, recently performed in Tokyo at the same venue where he had first played in Japan 40 years ago.

In his programme notes he wrote: "I may not be able to come back again. I've been coming here for 40 years, since before some of you were born. It's the best place I've ever played. Thank you for having me."